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“I don’t give a fuck,” I said, locking eyes with him. “I’m leaving. Right fucking now.”

I walked out, heart racing, not caring about anything except getting to my wife.

Chapter Thirteen

SERENITY VEYLOR-KORVEN

Ihadn’t seen Knox since our last night together, six days ago. After that night, I knew I was hooked. Every day, it took everything in me not to crawl right back under him and let myself get addicted all over again. But I knew that was dangerous. I was going to die in a few weeks, so what business did I have getting attached to anyone least of all a man paid to fuck every pussy in Emberwick? This wasn’t good for me, and it sure as hell wasn’t good for him.

I let him see too much last time. I didn’t know how he did it, but he got in deep, made me say things I should’ve kept locked up forever. I’d been reckless. Now he knew Konflict was my husband, and he hadn’t even bothered to pretend he didn’t recognize the name. Everybody in Emberwick knew the Big Six and the head of each founding family. If he took the risk of telling someone he’d been fucking Konflict Korven’s wife, he’dbe killed in a heartbeat. Konflict didn’t forgive anybody after playing with his name and honestly, I still couldn’t understand how he’d let someone fuck me for two days without hunting the man down.

Konflict was no angel. He watched everything I did. It wouldn’t surprise me if he already knew who the escort was—unless, as I suspected, he didn’t really give a damn as long as his name stayed out of the trash. The thought stung, making me wonder what we really were to each other. There was so much hate, but something beneath suggested things could’ve been different if this fucking war had never started.

Still, I couldn’t deny I missed Knox, but I didn’t want his death on my conscience, so I kept my distance. I could go back to Vixen’s, maybe ask for another escort, but honestly he was the only one I wanted. I couldn’t see myself finding that kind of connection with anyone else. The way he touched me, made my body lose my mind, no one else would ever do it like that. Knox ruined me and I cared about him. That was the problem. That’s why I forced myself not to see him.

“Serenity, the car’s waiting,” Valery called as I finished dressing.

I nodded, grabbed my bag, and followed her outside where we got into the Bentley and headed toward the casino. I tried to keep my mind clear, but it drifted to her—Kate Korven. She was unforgettable. Calm and composed on the surface and a strength most men would never see on the inside. She taught me how to fight back, how to wait in silence, how to strike when no one expected it. To my father and brother, I was just a pawn for some future alliance. But to Kate, I was a real woman—smarter and stronger than any of the men making decisions for the rest of us.

Nobody knew it, but she held the Korven’s together. She whispered in her husband’s ear, kept the family in line, protected Konflict and even me. She truly believed she couldmake peace between our families because she was the only one who knew how to reach her husband. He would have dropped his weapons for her, and the war would’ve ended there. But my father had to ruin everything. Killing Kate Korven was the worst mistake he ever made, and it brought him down. The guilt still churned in my gut, because deep down I knew she tried to fix everything for me as I had deep feelings for her son.

I took a deep breath, shaking off the thoughts before they turned to tears. Not today. Not when work was just starting.

“Welcome, Mrs. Korven,” the staff greeted me as the car pulled up.

Security chief Kalash nodded my way, holding his ground as I walked past. I couldn’t deny he did a better job than Viking. We’d had no problems on the floor since he came. But no matter how good he was, I knew he reported everything to Konflict and I hated that man more than I could put into words.

In my office, I dove straight into work. Valery gave me a quick update then left for her own desk. Guilt over Kate, the hollow ache from missing Knox, my hate for Konflict, all of it was heavy while I buried myself in work. I didn’t even notice time slipping until a knock hit my door.

“Serenity, someone wants to see you…” Valery’s voice drifted in as she cracked the door open. One look at her face was enough to sour my expression. Suspicion crept in as I lifted my eyes to hers.

“Is Konflict here?” I asked, because there was only one man capable of knocking me off balance without even stepping into the room. The hesitation in Valery’s posture told me whatever was coming was about to make everything worse.

“Um… not exactly.”

My fingers stilled on my desk. “What doesnot exactlymean? Who wants to see me?” I pressed, already bracing myself.

“Me,” a voice cut in as the door swung open.

She didn’t wait for permission. She walked in as though the space already belonged to her, long legs carrying her forward with deliberate confidence, caramel skin warm beneath a tailored suit that radiated power, money, and entitlement. She crossed the room without slowing, dropping onto my couch, and crossing her legs with the ease of someone who had never been told no. My face shut down instantly, heart pounding as anger and irritation surged so fast it stole my breath. My jaw clenched so tight I was sure she could hear it.

“What the hell are you doing here, Eleana?” I snapped, my voice tight with restrained fury.

Her lips curved into a smirk, arrogance etched into every line of her face as her gaze locked onto mine without apology. “Good. You remember my name. That’s a start,” she said smoothly. “I’m here because I think we should talk, woman to woman. I have a proposal for you, one you might actually want to hear.”

Valery stepped forward, sensing the tension thickening in the room. “Should I get Kalash to handle this? She shouldn’t be in here.”

I lifted a single hand, stopping Valery in her tracks without breaking my stare. There was no chance I was letting Eleana Sawyer walk out of my office untouched by consequence. She had rattled me once, and I was done allowing that. I wanted to see exactly how far she planned to take this performance.

“Leave us, Valery,” I said.

Valery hesitated, searching my eyes for a sign of hesitation, then turned and closed the door behind her, sealing us in.

I shifted in my chair, crossed my legs, and folded my arms. I let the silence settle and stretch until the room itself felt tense.

“Enlighten me, was it pure audacity or just stupidity that made you think waltzing into my office with some bullshit was a good idea?”

She flashed a slow, mocking smile. “You’re adorable when youtry to act like you run something. No wonder he hasn’t divorced you yet.” She tossed the words out casually, and I felt the impact immediately. It struck deep, but I held my expression, giving her nothing to work with.